{"id":5528,"date":"2024-12-20T08:45:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T00:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tgte-us.org\/?p=5528"},"modified":"2024-12-20T08:45:23","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T00:45:23","slug":"sri-lankan-presidents-call-sri-lankan-identity-sparks-concerns-genocide-intent-tgte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tgte-us.org\/?p=5528","title":{"rendered":"SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT\u2019S CALL FOR ‘SRI LANKAN IDENTITY’ SPARKS CONCERNS OVER GENOCIDE INTENT \u2013 TGTE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Link:https:\/\/www.einpresswire.com\/article\/770476422\/sri-lankan-president-s-call-for-sri-lankan-identity-sparks-concerns-over-genocide-intent-tgte<\/a><\/p>\r\n

\"\"COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, December 19, 2024 \/EINPresswire.com\/ — In recognition of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) highlights statements made by Sri Lanka\u2019s President Dissanayake in his November 10, 2024, speech as evidence of “specific intent” to undermine Tamil identity. This speech reiterated a call for a “Sri Lankan identity,” which TGTE asserts prioritizes a unified national identity at the expense of the distinct Tamil identity.<\/p>\r\n

According to TGTE, the call for a singular national identity may align with actions that meet the criteria of genocide under the United Nations\u2019 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The convention defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.<\/p>\r\n

President Dissanayake stated that his government is \u201ccommitted to uniting all Sri Lankans under one flag,\u201d which TGTE interprets as an effort to assimilate the Tamil population. TGTE points to historical and ongoing actions that include efforts to suppress Tamil culture and identity as contributing to concerns about Tamil sovereignty and survival.<\/p>\r\n

Further echoing this concern, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya\u2019s past writings, as cited by TGTE, suggest that calls for unity may sometimes reflect a majority-driven effort to diminish minority identities.<\/p>\r\n

TGTE also references past statements from Sinhala political leaders who have linked resolving the national conflict to addressing economic crises. TGTE contends that such approaches seek to integrate Tamil communities into a Sinhala-dominated economic framework, potentially eroding the distinctiveness of Tamil identity and culture.<\/p>\r\n

TGTE draws attention to the destruction of Tamil cultural markers, including Hindu temples, as additional evidence of efforts to assimilate or erase Tamil identity. TGTE claims these actions are part of a broader pattern aimed at undermining the viability of the Tamil Nation.<\/p>\r\n

International Comparisons and Double Standards<\/p>\r\n

TGTE references a March 27, 2024, report by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese titled \u201cAnatomy of a Genocide,\u201d which concluded that acts meeting the genocide threshold occurred in Gaza. TGTE highlights parallels between these findings and actions documented in Sri Lanka during the armed conflict. These include widespread civilian casualties, attacks on humanitarian sites, and denial of aid\u2014all of which TGTE asserts align with definitions of genocide under Article II of the Genocide Convention.<\/p>\r\n

TGTE also notes that the 2012 UN Panel of Experts Report on Sri Lanka documented acts that meet genocide criteria, although the term \u201cgenocide\u201d was not explicitly used in the report. TGTE emphasizes the need for consistent global standards in addressing and labeling acts of genocide.<\/p>\r\n

Call to Action<\/p>\r\n

To mark International Victims of Genocide Day, TGTE urges individuals and states to recommit to preventing genocide and ensuring accountability for such crimes. TGTE advocates for a global effort to realize a world where the principle of “Never Again” is upheld through meaningful action.<\/p>\r\n

Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran\r\nPrime Minister\r\nTransnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)<\/p>\r\n\r\n